Innovation Project Officer

Bluetownonline; Manchester; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

A collaborative innovation partnership in Manchester is seeking an Innovation Project Officer to coordinate and deliver innovative projects. You'll manage communications, support events, and provide administrative assistance in a dynamic team environment. Ideal candidates will possess strong organizational skills, experience in project management, and a passion for innovation and inclusive growth. This role offers an opportunity to make a tangible impact in driving economic and social benefits.

Qualifications

• Excellent organisational and communication skills, managing multiple priorities.
• Experience coordinating complex projects or events, ideally within a university or research environment.
• Confidence using IT and data systems, attention to detail.
• Proactive, flexible, and collaborative approach in a fast-moving setting.
• Passion for innovation and inclusive growth.

Responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for project enquiries and partners across Manchester and Cambridge.
• Support meetings, events, and workshops with leaders from academia, business, and government.
• Manage project communications, including website updates and marketing materials.
• Coordinate logistics, procurement, reporting, and data management.
• Provide proactive support to the Project Director and leadership team.

Skills

Excellent organisational and communication skills

Experience coordinating complex projects or events

Confidence using IT and data systems

Proactive, flexible, and collaborative approach

Passion for innovation and inclusive growth

Job description

Job Title: Innovation Project Officer

Location: Oxford Road, Manchester

Salary: Grade 5 £32,080 - £36,636

Job type: Full Time, 36 months Fixed term. 35 hours per week / 1.0 FTE

Closing date: 09/11/2025

Join a pioneering collaboration driving innovation for the public good.

Two university's have joined forces to create an Innovation Partnership - the UK's first cross-UK innovation partnership. Backed by £4.8 million from Research England, this ground-breaking initiative will connect two of the country's most dynamic innovation cities to accelerate inclusive economic growth, attract investment, and amplify the impact of world-class research and enterprise.

The partnership will forge powerful connections between universities, businesses, and civic partners to tackle some of the UK's biggest challenges. Together, we're creating a new model of place-to-place collaboration that drives real-world benefits and delivers innovation for everyone.

We're now looking for an exceptional Project Officer to join our team and help turn this ambitious vision into reality.

About the Innovation Partnership:

This Innovation Partnership is the UK's first cross-UK innovation alliance, led by two universities.

Together, we're creating a hyper-connected innovation corridor - strengthening networks, accelerating scale-up growth, driving investment into R&D, and attracting new foreign direct investment (FDI) to the UK.

The partnership will amplify each city's strengths, building connectivity between the two ecosystems and unlocking greater collective economic impact.

The Role:

As the Project Officer, you'll play a key role in coordinating and delivering activity across this fast-paced, high-profile programme. Working as part of the dynamic team, you'll provide exceptional administrative, operational, and communications support to ensure the project runs smoothly and achieves its goals.

What you will be doing:

• Act as the first point of contact for project enquiries and partners across Manchester and Cambridge.
• Support meetings, events, and workshops that bring together leaders from academia, business, and government.
• Manage project communications, from website updates to social media and marketing materials.
• Coordinate logistics, procurement, reporting, and data management.
• Provide proactive, high-quality support to the Project Director and leadership team.

This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of innovation, collaboration, and impact, helping to shape a national exemplar of university-led innovation.

About You:

You'll bring;

• Excellent organisational and communication skills, with a talent for managing multiple priorities.
• Experience coordinating complex projects or events, ideally within a university, research, or innovation environment.
• Confidence using IT and data systems, and an eye for detail.
• A proactive, flexible, and collaborative approach - comfortable working in a fast-moving and ambitious setting.
• A passion for innovation, impact, and inclusive growth.

You'll thrive in a team that values creativity, pace, and collaboration, and where your ideas and initiative will be encouraged.

About us:

This is the university's new innovation capability - created to unlock the full impact of the University's research, talent, and assets. We connect people, ideas, and industries to drive inclusive growth and position Manchester as a global innovation powerhouse.

Our values:

Be Future Positive. Be Fierce. Be Fast. Make Things Happen.

Joining us means being part of a team that's unmistakably Manchester - bold, authentic, and relentlessly ambitious.

As an equal opportunities employer we support an inclusive working environment and welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.